2 Appointees Oppose Gay Contract

The newest members appointed this week to the Broward School Board's Diversity Committee are two of the staunchest foes of the school district's contract with GLSEN, a gay tolerance organization.

Margaret Hostetter, the highest profile critic of the contract, was appointed by at-large board member Darla Carter, while conservative radio talk show host Steve Kane was appointed by newly elected District 6 board member Marty Rubinstein.

Most board members who supported the contract with the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network are standing firm, but insiders think the appointments show the contract -- which calls for GLSEN to help train teachers to recognize anti-gay harassment -- may be re-examined.

Hostetter, who lost to Rubinstein in the primary, vowed Thursday to continue fighting GLSEN as well as the district's policy prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals.

"My goal has been from the first ... to have the School Board remove the words sexual orientation from its policy ... which is based on the false premise that homosexuality is genetically or biologically determined," Hostetter said.

The Diversity Committee advises the board on issues that range from diversifying the teaching staff to ensuring that predominantly minority schools offer the same quality of education. One mission is to promote tolerance of differences that led the committee to support the GLSEN agreement.

Susan Silverberg, chairwoman of the Diversity Committee, said she feared Rubinstein's appointment shows his opposition to the GLSEN contract and its mission to reduce harassment.

"I didn't know Rubinstein before the election, but knowing what he did tells me all I need to know. Honestly, that appointment speaks volumes." The School Board voted 6-3 in April to formalize the arrangement for GLSEN to help train teachers to recognize anti-gay harassment so they can help students cope with it.

Carter, who could not be reached for comment, has said it unfairly gives special rights to one group and she campaigned for re-election attacking the deal. But Rubinstein has said he has not seen enough of the agreement's details to have an informed opinion.

He advised not to read too much into his choice of Kane, saying he simply wanted "more diversity on the diversity committee."

Kane himself quipped, "They seem to have mastered racial and sexual diversity, but they don't seem to have mastered political diversity."

That shows a lack of familiarity with the committee, Silverberg said. "We have had votes and discussions where people disagree vehemently with each other."

Rubinstein said he chose his longtime acquaintance in part because of Kane's understanding of diversity as a parent of three adopted African-American children.

"We are a multiethnic, multilingual society and we ought to be rejoicing in our diversity, but we should be learning how to come together, not to be driving a wedge" between people, Rubinstein said.

Bill Hirschman can be reached at bhirschman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4513.